Perez was convicted in 2010 on various extortion and bribery charges and sentenced to three years in prison. He appealed that conviction, and late last year, the state's appellate court said the trial judge abused its discretion, and made procedural errors, when it combined two cases against Perez. As a result, the appellate court ordered two new trials.

That wasn't the end of it. State prosecutors have asked the justices of the state supreme court to revisit the case. Now, attorneys for Perez have filed their papers in opposition.

Among other arguments, attorney Hubert Santos told the court that "there is no public policy issue in this case that requires certification to this Court."